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Post by craigmccle on Dec 15, 2006 15:56:53 GMT -7
I just picked up a new Maz Jr head with Reverb and a Z 1x12 cab. I've read through a lot of posts on here and know that it takes a little while to get your sound dialed in so I'm trying not to get discouraged, but I'm definitely not finding it. I'm playing a strat through it mostly, and I generally stay in first and second positions with the pickups. I seem to be having a couple of problems.
First, in second position it seems to become kind of bright and a little thinner than I want. Then secondly, if I get the second position to sound anywhere close to what I want, then first position sound really really weak. In first I'm looking for a big growling SRV kind of tone and it just goes to nothing.
I'm excited about the potential that this amp has, but I just need someone to help me unlock it. Thanks.
~Craig
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Post by John on Dec 15, 2006 16:13:12 GMT -7
If the first position is too bright, knock down your Cut knob...most people keep it around 9:00... or even lower. Some keep it all the way off.
Also, for the difference between the two positions. Are they the same pickups, or is the bridge a 'hot' pickup. That will cause problems. Also, is the bridge pickup raised up higher? (closer to the strings) and the middle pickup lower? That will cause the first position to be much louder.
Or a combination of both above?
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Post by craigmccle on Dec 15, 2006 16:23:30 GMT -7
Thanks for your response.
The cut knob is currently around 9 and I feel like my sound gets too muffled if I turn it lower.
As for the pickups, I apologize for the lack of clarity, but I've always considered the neck pickup to be 1st position and then so on down. My pickups are all the same (Fender Samarium Cobalt Noiseless), and if anything, the middle pickup is just slightly higher than the neck. Thanks again.
~Craig
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Post by GuitarZ on Dec 15, 2006 20:55:18 GMT -7
Lately, I'm getting a lot of "I can hear some SRV in there" when folks listen to my tunes especially with the neck pickup. I'm not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but I do like Stevie Ray.
Here's how I run mine: Volume 2:00, Treble 11:00, Mid 1:00, Bass 8:30, Master 2:00, & Cut 11:15
I'm keeping the reverb off and the cut a little high because I'm recording. It just comes out better that way for me. I'm running into a Celestion V30. I'm also remembering that I didn't get that growl out of the amp until I got my airbrake and got the master up to 2 o'clock.
I would think that you would hear some SRV in your Maz. You can also go to an extreme just for kicks. Someone else asked how to get the SRV tone and someone replied to dime the bass, zero out the mid, and dime the treble. I thought that it was a little ridiculous but tried it for kicks. That person was actually on to something.
If in the end you don't find your sound, remember that everyone will have their own tastes. Good luck!
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swampstomper
Full Member
The only thing that really worried me was the ether.
Posts: 136
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Post by swampstomper on Dec 16, 2006 2:59:13 GMT -7
I just picked up a new Maz Jr head with Reverb and a Z 1x12 cab. I've read through a lot of posts on here and know that it takes a little while to get your sound dialed in so I'm trying not to get discouraged, but I'm definitely not finding it. I'm playing a strat through it mostly, and I generally stay in first and second positions with the pickups. I seem to be having a couple of problems. First, in second position it seems to become kind of bright and a little thinner than I want. Then secondly, if I get the second position to sound anywhere close to what I want, then first position sound really really weak. In first I'm looking for a big growling SRV kind of tone and it just goes to nothing. I'm excited about the potential that this amp has, but I just need someone to help me unlock it. Thanks. ~Craig I would suggest getting your neck pickup dialed in first. Set the Bass, Mid and Treble to 12:00 and leave the Cut control off for now. With your guitar's controls at 10 dial in the approximate amount of gain you like by adjusting the Volume and Master. Bear in mind that at lower volumes you will mainly be hearing preamp distortion. You will need to crank the Master up to get output tube distortion, which is really what you want to emulate the SRV "growl" tone you describe. I have also found that cranking up the preamp (Volume) tends to make the tone brighter, especially in the last 25% of it's range. Once you've got the gain and overall volume set where it sounds about right start making adjustments to the Bass, Mid and Treble controls. I'd work with the MID control first. Don't worry if the best setting you can find here is still to dark, the Cut control will brighten things up considerably. I would set the Cut control last, just dialing in the very top end. Your tone is going to vary some depending on how loud you set the amp, which is why I suggested setting up the gain structure and volume level first. SRV also used tube screamers for his overdriven sounds, probably just using them to boost his signal going in. They have a certain tonality to them, but also have an inherent bass rolloff that some find undesireable. There are other overdrive pedals you might want to consider that are similar to the tube screamer. I've also read that SRV sometimes used a 5751 preamp tube in the V1 position. This is a lower gain version of a 12AX7 which allowed him to get more of his gain sound from the output stage. I'm curious to try this myself and will probably grab a few 5751s to try in my MAZ 18. Most folks get very good results with a strat through the MAZ 18, myself included. I can't say that I've nailed the SRV tone, but I haven't really been trying for that particular sound. The sounds I have been getting are certainly in that ballpark. Good luck!
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Post by (8^D) on Dec 16, 2006 7:00:18 GMT -7
Some suggested starter settings:
Fendery/Vox tones: Volume: 2-3:00 Treble: 9:30 Mid: 9:00 Bass: 10:00 Master: 10:00
Marshally tones: Volume: 12-1:00 Treble: 10-11:00 Mid: 12-1:00 Bass: 9-10:00 Master: 2-3:00
Pre (Volume) drive is brighter/thinner. Post (Master) drive is warmer/thicker.
Boosting the Volume and dropping the Master will lend itself to a Fender/Vox tone (scooped, bit thinner, more chime/jangle/articulation).
Boosting the Master and dropping the Volume will lend itself to a Marshally tone (mid hump/compressed/smooth).
Tons of tones inbetween. Season to taste.
Another suggestion w/respect to a strat, try rolling the tone control back just a bit so it isn't as bright. The Z amps are like taking a pillow off the speaker of most other amps - hence a little brighter/articulate. Helped me.
Enjoy your Maz!
Dan-o
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Post by Ryan (shorty) on Dec 16, 2006 7:59:13 GMT -7
I can get very close to the SRV tone with my Keeley BD-2 and TS-9. Without them I can't come close. If you're like me 90% of the time you can't crank it, so I do need them for lower volumes.
The TS-9 can probably get you there by itself, but both together is magical. I may be crazy, but I run the gain on the TS-9 flat out. I set the BD-2 at noon. Believe me, the tubes are screaming! I do like the Keeley pedals and they are a big improvement over stock.
I agree with running the tones and master at noon, cut at 9:00 and use the neck pickup. Try the low input if that's too loud.
Good luck.
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Post by GuitarZ on Dec 16, 2006 13:09:47 GMT -7
Hey SwampStomper. I put the 5751s into my Marshall years ago and really liked them. An older engineer that I worked with thought it was interesting that I had a tube amp and passed on some tubes that had been in his basement for years. I tried them all and ended up with the 5751s. I haven't tried them in the Maz mainly because I don't want to mess with my good thing.
In the Marshall they did decrease the gain and saturation, but they added a presense and clarity that wasn't there before. I could see this as positive thing especially if you have a boost in front of your amp.
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Post by tele1962 on Dec 16, 2006 13:55:43 GMT -7
Remember what Stevie Ray got that tone with was pretty much a scooped blackface sound. The Vibroverb is naturally mid scooped, so back that control off on the Z as well. 9 O'clock?
And I don't know much about those Samarium Cobalt Noiseless PU's, but Stevie didnt use those either I don't think.
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Post by heynewguy (Ol’ Bill) on Dec 17, 2006 10:17:56 GMT -7
Pre (Volume) drive is brighter/thinner. Post (Master) drive is warmer/thicker. Boosting the Volume and dropping the Master will lend itself to a Fender/Vox tone (scooped, bit thinner, more chime/jangle/articulation). Boosting the Master and dropping the Volume will lend itself to a Marshally tone (mid hump/compressed/smooth). Tons of tones inbetween. Season to taste.Dan-o Best description of the MAZ series that I've seen! new
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Post by dei305 on Dec 21, 2006 9:25:39 GMT -7
craigmccle, I would suggest you start with your strat first. I am familiar with the SCN's. Start with the neck pup first. Adjust the height and angle (the pup higher on the treble stings and a bit lower for the bass strings), for output and balance. Then, do the same with the middle pup. The neck and middle pups are wound identically. Once you have these two dialed in to your taste then do the same with the bridge pup. The SCN bridge has a bit more output then the neck and middle. Then, listen to the tone of both neck and middle. Trying raising or lowering the middle pup for that "quack" flavor suited best to your ears. Do this in very small increments as well. After that, balance the bridge pup volume with the middle pup and adjust to your ears. Your MAZ Jr will take you and strat to many enjoyable places. Rick
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Post by craigmccle on Dec 22, 2006 13:06:10 GMT -7
Thanks for all the help guys. I've been in Mississippi on a mission trip since Saturday and haven't gotten to mess around with a lot of what you guys have said. I'm gonna spend the next few days doing a lot of this stuff. I can't wait to try all of this out.
~Craig
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Post by craigmccle on Dec 24, 2006 14:58:42 GMT -7
Well I've spent the past few days messing around with this thing and I'm in heaven. I messed with the strat and amp and it sounds killer. I pulled out my Fender Blues Jr. just now (which I'm sad to say was what I considered my best sounding amp before the MAZ) and there's no comparison. The MAZ smokes it.
Now I'm off to find my Tele sound with the MAZ ;D
You guys are awesome and I can't thank you enough for all of your help.
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Post by m1911 on Dec 25, 2006 7:04:14 GMT -7
Try this: Reverb - 9 to 10 O'clock Cut - 9 O'clock Master - (Loudness) to taste - 8 to 11 O'clock Bass - 10 O'clock Middle - 1 O'clock Treble 10 O'clock Volume (Gain) Max
Also, try putting a Lindy Fralin Steel-Pole-43 in the Bridge Mark
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